Padlock
Verse
End
He shook his head to clear it from the
momentary distraction of the candle's flame, shivering and not daring
to look up as a guard strolled by, focusing on the curled edges of
the parchment before him. His fingertips slid over the slightly
raised texture of the ink that covered its surface, crafted in neat,
evenly spaced lines that spoke of wanton needs and deepest desires;
for the moment he tried to ignore the more obvious message of each
verse, squinting as he leaned forward. As the guard passed further
from his view, footsteps echoing more faintly with each step, he
raised the paper before the flame, wincing at the rattling of the
padlock that held the shackles around his wrists even as he passed
the vellum over the candle, watching as new and unseen words appeared
between the inky phrases. “Tonight, after moonrise. If I do not
come, then.....” His vision blurred as he blinked back salt tears,
unable for the moment to read the message to its end.
Happy Halloween to all, best of luck to the NaNo participants, and a HUGE "Thank You" to all the wonderful people who keep us writing!
